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McCain Breaks Sharply from Bush on Environment

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May 12, 2008 9:09 AM

ABC News' Ron Claiborne Reports: Campaigning in the Pacific Northwest, presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, R-Ariz., broke sharply from the Bush administration on climate change, calling for urgent steps to confront its threat and saying that as president he "will not shirk the mantle of leadership" on the issue.

In an implicit rebuke to the Bush administration, McCain said at the Vestas Wind Energy Training Facility in Portland, Oregon. "I will not shirk the mantle of leadership that the United States bears. I will not permit eight long years to pass without serious action on serious challenges." Referring to the Kyoto Protocols on greenhouse gas emissions the U.S. never signed, McCain added, "I will not accept the same dead-end of failed diplomacy that claimed Kyoto."

"We stand warned by serious and credible scientists across the world that time is short and the dangers are great," McCain said. ""The most relevant question now is whether our own government is equal to the challenge."

McCain proposed a "cap-and-trade" system that sets overall limits on domestic greenhouse gas emissions and allows companies with low emissions to sell their credits to companies that fail to meet their benchmarks. He called for capping total U.S emissions nationwide at 2005 levels by the year 2012, at 1990 levels by 2020, with the aim of cutting emissions by 2050 by at least 60 percent of the 1990 levels. He does not mention mandating higher fuel efficiency levels for vehicles.

McCain also favors increasing reliance on nuclear power.

"It doesn't take a leap in logic to conclude that if we want to arrest global warming, then nuclear energy is a powerful allow in that cause," he said.

This week, McCain is embarking on a series of environmental-themed campaign events. McCain advisers say it is a way to distinguish himself from President Bush. Charles Black, a senior aide to McCain, noted that climate change is an issue is of particular importance to younger voters, a group among whom Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, has done well in the Democratic primaries. As the the Democrats continue to attack McCain as offering what amounts to a third Bush term, the McCain campaign says the Arizona Republican will stepping up efforts to highlight his differences with the president, including talking frequently about environmental issues.

During his presidential quest, McCain has spoken out often on climate change. He was one of the only Republican candidates do so and was the most forceful GOP contender to talk about the issue. In 2003, he sponsored the first bill calling for mandatory reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

McCain has indicated he may support legislation sponsored by Sen. Joseph Lieberman, Ind-Conn., and Sen. John Warner, R-Va, that would mandate a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 70 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, support the Lieberman-Warner bill, but have called for even greater reductions, to 80 percent below 1990 levels by mid-century.

Despite having been outspoken on the issue of climate change for years, McCain earned only a 24 (out of 100) lifetime rating by the League of Conservation Voters. He received a 0 score for 2007 because he failed to vote on any of what the LCV considered important environmental legislation.

May 12, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan | Permalink | User Comments (54)

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Ah good job John, lets see the John of campaigns past. I like a maverick and you will be our next president. Since the the DNC chose to destroy Hillary you are the next best person we can vote for, I will.

Posted by: HP Boston | May 12, 2008 9:20:28 AM

LOL

yea mccain is way better, i cant wait to spend 600 zillion trillion more dollars in Iraq for oil, and countless lives...

yup go vote mccain buddy...

lol

you sure are smart

Posted by: bhrandon | May 12, 2008 9:43:09 AM

A big "0" for 2007 on environmental issues for mc-more-war. I can understand why he wants to distance himself from the rest of the GOP who claim global warming is just a cyclical thing. Does an OLD guy like him really care about what happens in 2050? Obama 2008!

Posted by: pt | May 12, 2008 9:56:19 AM

Today McCain, is to acknowledge that President Bush has been, you know kinda sorta ineffective at responsible environmental policy. While he, McCain, would promise not to suck if elected.

This is just an acknowledgement of the patently obvious and hardly qualifies as a rebuke, at this point. But this is a change from the current administration.

Posted by: The Commander Guy | May 12, 2008 9:59:16 AM

Kudos to him for some common sense, he will need to keep this up if he hopes to win.

Posted by: MIguy | May 12, 2008 10:01:47 AM

Josh - What's the difference between bhrando and rat boy? Sound the same to me. Full of themselves and Bo.

Posted by: fool | May 12, 2008 10:14:22 AM

Well, it certainly seems we ARE doing something about global warming now. We have taken much of the world's food crop and converted into ethanol which only provides maybe only 3% of the world's oil. As a result we have a world hunger crisis.

Isn't it ironic. In an attempt to re-engineer the climate, we actually created the very situation the activists said global warming would create.

Posted by: marco123 | May 12, 2008 10:34:26 AM

Good for him. Still not going to vote for him but at least I know that no matter who wins, someone will finally begin to address this crisis.

Posted by: TSnow27604 | May 12, 2008 11:05:52 AM

It will be interesting to see how far McCain will distance himself from the Bush Administration across the board - the war, economy, social issues, immigration reform, etc - without further alienating his Conservative base. Can he win without his base, hmmmm? The McCain and Obama campaigns will conduct their "elevated" policy discussions in those town hall meeting TBD, while their respective surrogates and 527s RIP into each other's candidate.

Posted by: mariann | May 12, 2008 11:13:34 AM

I luv the fact that the GOP has suddenly forgot about all the harm Bush and Cheney has done to this country. REmember this when it comes time to vote. The GOP had Congress and the record show the lies, crime, greed and Bush will pay some day. Lets start with more of the Same with McCain. He is turning the Right talkshow into crazies, because they don't support his opposite views. Stick with the Bush agenda GOPs...more of the same with McCain

Posted by: ck | May 12, 2008 11:35:06 AM

"It's sad when your own party doesn't fully support you."

Then Obama must be the saddest of the sad right.

Posted by: geevill | May 12, 2008 11:44:47 AM

John McCain is my second choice after Hillary Clinton for President. Choosing a qualified woman as his running mate would be an added bonus. I remember the nasty way he was treated by the Bush campaign when he ran against Bush so I'm not fearful that his Presidency will be the same as that of Bush. He'll probaly clean House when he's elected.

Posted by: CollegeEducatedLatteDrinker | May 12, 2008 12:17:33 PM

It amazes me that racism has vanished from conscious published thought during this contest.

If Obama loses it is not likely to be because he is less "qualified".

Anybody want to be honest and weigh in on this?

Posted by: ronwel | May 12, 2008 12:42:34 PM

No one with two brain cells and capable for their own governance still believes the hoax of man-made global warming;

U.S. Senate Report: Over 400 Prominent Scientists Disputed Man-Made Global Warming Claims in 2007

And this idiocy that Juan drools about disturbing "pristine land" to rid ourselves of our dependence on terrorist oil by utilizing the technology we now have to keep a small footprint in drilling is nothing less than insanity.

Just Vote None Of The Above!!

Posted by: Winghunter | May 12, 2008 12:46:42 PM

At last! A candidate who is depoliticizing a technical subject. And allowing activists in both parties in Congress to get credit.

That's the difference between talking about "bringing us together" and acting by giving respect to all parties so they will really come together. And on a subject that is a slam dunk to all but those who want to use it for vote getting.

Posted by: Tom Mariner | May 12, 2008 12:50:40 PM

McCain will be the next President of the United States.

If Hillary loses the nomination, her supporters will vote for McCain. If Hillary runs as an Independent, her supporters will vote for her and split the Dems down the middle. There is NO WAY in Hades that Obama will win the nomination. He and his supporters need to face the facts, it's either Hillary or McCain......Obama might as well give up. Hillary or McCain 08! NOBAMA !

Posted by: david from texas | May 12, 2008 1:10:10 PM

An honest reply to Ronwel.

Racism never should have been a part of any discussion of candidates any more than gender or age should be. All should stay gone from now on.

But of course if Senator Obama loses it will be because he is less qualified! All three candidatess backgrounds have little executive experience (which is why the predominance of recent Presidents have been governors) but some have more Federal experience than others.

Posted by: Tom Mariner | May 12, 2008 1:15:21 PM

This clown can't have it both ways. Last week, he was insisting that yes, he voted for Bush. This week, he want's us to believe that he is an environmentalist. Go home, John. They're showing "Matlock" reruns on cable.

Posted by: Diggy Zazz | May 12, 2008 1:44:40 PM

Global temperatures have been falling since 1997.

The level of sunspot activity last year dropped to zero; the new 11-year sunspot cycle has failed to start. The last time this happened was the Maunder Sunspot Minimum (1645-1715) and was called the Little Ice Age.

Posted by: Gideon7 | May 12, 2008 2:03:02 PM

David in Texas, you lost ALL credibility when you stated "There is NO WAY in Hades that Obama will win the nomination."

Posted by: DennisNC | May 12, 2008 2:20:35 PM

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